Quantity indicating device for liquids



1933. J. MACCALLUML JR 1,896,637

' QUANITY INDICATING DEVICE FOR LIQUIDS Original Filed Sept. 25. 1922hvvsAn-oxa: JAME //4ccAL UM Je.

Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES JAMES MAecArL M, m.

OF UNIVERSITY CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES MACCALLUM, SR.

' QUANTITY INDICATING DEVICE FOR LIQUIDS Original application filedSeptember 25, 1922, Serial No. 590,302. Divided. and this applicationfiled August 1, 1927. SerialfNo. 209,759.

My inventionrelates to improvements in quantity indicating devices forliquids, and has for its primary object a means for automaticallydelivering a pressure'carrying s' "I, medium or gas to the pressurechamber of an 7 tainer ortank and in which means for automaticallyreplacing any loss of volume of pressure carrying medium isautomatically'replaced when an engine is in operation.

This invention is a division of an application filed by me September25th, 1922, Serial 201N0. 590,302, and in which division was required onApril'lth, 1923. a

In the drawing:

The figure is a fragmental view of a liquid container or tank with oneform of my de- 25: vice attached thereto, parts ofthe device beingbroken away and parts insectio'n. v

In the construction of my device 19 represents a liquid or fuelcontainer for'motor vehicles. This container is of theor'dina'ry type 10and is provided with the usual filler opening and may be normally opentothe atmosphere. The construction of these containers being well knownand common in the art, the details of construction thereof and theparticular de- 5 scription will be omitted.

My invention consists in a pressure chamber or conduit end 20 which islocated in the container 19 and at the full depth of the liquid, whosequantity is 'to be determined.

Q This pressure chamber or end also has communication with the liquid sothat the liquid in the tank can set up a pressure in the chamber orend-20. Extending fromthe chamber or end 20 is an air pipe or conduit21. This extends upward throughthetank to a pressure responsiveindicating deviceI22. This device is preferably placed where it'lwill bein view of the operatorat alltimes. The chamber or end 20 maybeprovided'with a 1 bottom 23, which may be eitherireticu lated orperforate and preferably surrounding the chamber, or at least the lowerportion thereof, is an auxiliary chamber 24. It will be noted that thechamber 24k is of greater diameter than the chamber 20 andhas its bottomlocatedsome distance below the bottom or lowor edge of the chamber 20.The purpose of this auxiliary chainberwhen used is 'to' prevent theside'wash ofthe liquid in the container when a vehicle is in operationfrom washing. or carrying the air or pressure carrying medium frombeneath the pressure chamber. v

25 represents an air supply conduit which has its lower end vorprojection "26 located within, beneath or adjacent the bottom of thepressure chamber 20. I

This pipe25. extends upward through the container and is attached to anair chamber 27, the air chamber being provided with an inlet port 28,which is controlled by an outwardly seating' valve 29, and with anoutlet port 30. This outlet port 30 may be provided with an inwardlyseating valve 31 and to this outlet port is connected the upper end ofthe pipe 25. 32 represents either an intake or exhaust pipe of an engineor other fluid conducting conduit. This conduit is provided with ascrew-threaded projection 32. This projection extends outwardly from theside of the conduit 32. The passage 33 has placedtherein apulsationresponsive member such as va diaphragmfit, this memberbeinglocated between the interior of the con 7 duit 32-and the airchamber 27 thereby forming in connection with the chamber 27 a pressureresponsive wall.

The operation of my device is as follows: After the device has beeninstalled and all proper connections made as disclosed in the drawing,liquid is poured into the tank or container 19.. This liquid sets uppressure in thepressure chamber or conduit end 20, which pressureinvturn is delivered through the pipe 21 to the indicator'22 and sincethe pressure in the end 20 will vary according to the weight or head ofthe liquid in the container an accurate indication of the amount of,liquid in thecontainer will be, given. It is also a well known fact thatin additional air into the chamber 27.

where air or gas is subjected to pressure by a liquid, the liquid willabsorb a certain amount of this air or gas. This and also leakage causesa loss of volume of pressure carrying medium in the pressure chamber andconsequently an incorrect reading.

After all conections have been made and fuel placed in the tank, theengine is started. Then the pulsations set up in the conduit 32 willcause the pulsation responsive member 34 to vibrate. On each outwardmovement of said pulsation responsive member air in the chamber 27 willbe compressed. This action will seat the valve 29 and unseat the valve31 when used driving air down through the pipe 25 and discharging itinto the chamber 23, and on the inward movement of the member the airchamber 27 will become enlarged. This causes the valve 29 to unseat,drawing Thus it will be seen that when the engine is in operation therewill be intermittent pufis of air or other fluid medium delivered intothe chamber 23, this chamber being arranged to permit the excess gaseousmedium to escape under the sides of the chamber and pass up through theliquid so that no false pressures will be set up in the auxiliarychamber.

It is obvious that the air in either the coil 12 or the chamber 27 isexpanded due to the heated fluids passing through the conduits or pipes18 or 32 and that these pipes or conduits will also become heated by thefriction of the fluids either passing therethrough in a steady stream orby pulsations with or without said fluids being primarily heated.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. A quantityindicating device for liquid containers of engines, comprising a conduithaving one end submerged in the liquid, the air in said conduit beingsealed against escape, a pressure-responsive indicating gauge incommunication with said conduit, a pipe having one end communicatingwith said conduit, and means secured to the opposite end of said pipefor delivering a pressurecarrying medium to said conduit, said meansincluding a reciprocable element actuated by physical variations offluid communicating with said engine.

, 2. A quantity indicating device for liquid containers of engines,comprising an air pressure chamber in communication with the liquid atthe full depth to be measured, a pressure gauge, a pressure-carryingcommunication between said chamber and gauge, a conduit having one endterminating adjacent the pressure chamber and below the level at whichthe chamber communicates with the liquid, a reciprocating pumping meansincluding an air chamber communicating with said conduit, andheat-radiating means for operating said pumping means for forcing airthrough the conduit.

3. A device for indicating the quantity of liquid in containers ofengines, comprising an air-containing pressure transmitting conduitimmersed in and communicating with the liquid in said container, anexternally located pressure indicator connected with said conduit, asecond conduit having one end terminating below said first-mentionedconduit, its other end terminating beyond the container, and areciprocating pumping means communicating with said second conduit, saidpumping means being secured to the latter end of said second conduit andcoinmunicating with a source of artificial heat for absorbing heattherefrom for expanding and operating said pumping means and forcing aircontained in said conduit therethrough and below for delivery to saidfirst conduit.

4. A device for indicating the quantity of liquid in a container onengines, comprising an air-pressure transmitting chamber immersed in andcommunicating with said liquid at the full depth to be measured, anexternally located pressure-responsive indicator, a conduit connectingsaid chamber and indicator, a second conduit having one end terminatingbeneath'said pressure chamber, its other end extending beyond thecontainer, pumping means communicating with said engine fluids andhaving a pressure-responsive wall actuated by variations of said enginefluid and secured to the remote end of said second conduit, and meansfor subjecting the pressure-responsive wall to the en gine fluid wherebyair is pumped through said second conduit and delivered beneath thepressure chamber and said air will rise upward and pass into saidpressure chamber.

5. In a quantity indicating device for liquids of an engine, apressure-responsive gauge, a pressure chamber communicating with saidliquid and open at its lower end, a pressure-transmitting conduitbetween said chamber and gauge in combination with a liquid container inthe liquid of which said pressure chamber is immersed to the full depthto be measured, a conduit having one end terminating adjacent and belowthe lower edge of said pressure chamber, expansible means co-operatingwith said engine in operation for forcing out part of the expanded airfrom the lower end of said conduit, and means for preventing side washof the liquid in the container from carrying air delivered beneath thepressure chamber.

6. A quantity indicating device for liquid containers of an engine,comprising an airpressure chamber in communication with the liquid atthe full depth to be measured, a pressure gauge, a pressure-carryingcommunication between said chamber and gauge, a duct having its one endterminating adj acent and below the lower end of the pressure chamber,and means including a reciprocatively movable element co-operating withand actuated by the pulsations of fluids communicating with said engine,said means being co-operable with the opposite end of said duct fordelivering a pressure-carrying medium to the pressure chamber.

7 A quantity indicating device for liquid containers of engines,comprising a conduit having one end immersed in the liquid, 2.

munication between said chamber and gauge,

and means cooperating with said chamber and including an element movableby the heat generated by said engine to expand gases in said means anddeliver said gases below said air-pressure chamber.

9. In a device for indicating the depth of liquid in a tank for engines,a conduit extending into the tank and having an opening communicatingwith the liquid therein so as to be subject to the head of liquid onsaid opening, indicating means connected tobe responsive to the pressurein said conduit, and means communicating with said engine forautomatically introducing atmospheric air into said conduit comprising achamber having a deformable wall and communicating with said conduit,said wall being actuated b variations in engine fluid pressure.

10. n a device for indicating the depth of liquid in a tank, a conduitextending into the tank and having an opening communicating with theliquid therein so as to be subject to the head of liquid on saidopening, indicating means connected to be responsive to the pressure insaid conduit, means for automatically introducing air into said conduitcomprising a pressure chamber having a deformable wall responsive toexternal fluid pressure and communicating with said conduit, said wallbeing actuated by and subject to variations in said fluid pressure, anda valved inlet and outlet for said chamber.

11. In a device for indicating the depth of liquid in a tank, a conduitextending into the tank and having an opening communicating with theliquid therein so as to be subject to the head of liquid on saidopening, indicating means connected to 'be responsive to the pressure insaid conduit, means for auto matically introducing air into said conduitcomprising a pressure chamber having a deformable wall responsive toexternal fluid pressure and communicating with said conduit, said wallbeing actuated by variations in said fluid pressure, said chamber havingan inlet and outlet, one of which is valved.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature, p

JAMES MACCALLUM, J R.

